Is this really my new home?

I sat there staring off into space when all of a sudden in my line of vision a spider drops down to the ground from the roof I was sitting under. I watched this spider play tag with another one that was close by. One would run out in front of the other and then the second one would chase it to catch up. They started jumping and before I knew it their game of tag turned into a game of leap frog.It’s funny, I’ve always had a fear of spiders but for some reason I wasn’t afraid. I was actually quite amused. I watched this spider game while I sipped on a freshly brewed cup of coffee and I just started to soak in the atmosphere.

It was weird. Am I really here? I mean it felt like yesterday when I was talking about just coming to Uganda for a few weeks this summer and now I am going to be living here for 6 months. How does that even happen?

After I finished I hopped on the back of a boda boda and rode to town. I sat trying to keep my balance thinking I would fall off. What do I hold onto, my purse, my phone my sweater or the bike? As we curved around turns and streets that were all so unfamiliar it started to rain. Sweet soft drops began to fall on me. Lightly dusting my glasses with baby dew drops. 

We stopped at a little cafe to get lunch. It’s the mizungus favorite place to go apparently. Here I was eating a chicken Caesar salad. Breaking one of my rules(don’t eat any vegetables that aren’t cooked). A rule I have learned from my previous travels. Because of the water and the cleanliness I have always been told not to eat fresh fruits and veggies unless they have a peel. But oh well, here I am eating a salad. I did make an effort to chew it really good though in case it came back up later if you know what I mean. Then, we walked down the street. As it started to rain harder and harder I felt my spirits lift. It feels right. I feel home. Surely a little out of place but I know I will settle in to that soon enough. For now I am just in awe of the emotions that lay just below the surface.

After our outing we got back on a boda and rode in the rain back to the Sole Hope compound. This time the rain wasn’t just small spouts of mist, they were full on big drops that filled the road with murky red puddles. This time I decided to hold onto the bike. We hit a bump and I had to put my foot down because I almost fell off. So I readjusted, held onto the back of the bike with two hands and prayed that I wouldn’t fall off. I kept thinking! This is it….This is where I belong. Still trying to find my bearings in this new place but it feels “right” already.

So now I sit in my new home soaking it all in because it still hasn’t hit me that I will be living here for 6 months.